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give up the ghost

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌɡɪv ʌp ðə ˈɡoʊst/ · UK /ˌɡɪv ʌp ðə ˈɡəʊst/

give up the ghost means: To stop working or fail completely, often after being used for a long time.

verb

STOP WORKINGC1

To stop working or fail completely, often after being used for a long time.

  • My laptop gave up the ghost.
  • The old fridge finally gave up the ghost yesterday.
  • Will this engine give up the ghost before we get home?

Similar words: fail, break down, pack up

Common phrases: give up the ghost, eventually give up the ghost

DIEC2

To die.

  • The old king gave up the ghost.
  • She stayed beside him until he gave up the ghost.
  • He feared he would give up the ghost before help arrived.

Similar words: die, pass away

Common phrases: give up the ghost, finally give up the ghost

ABANDON A COMMITMENTC2

To stop supporting a cause, following a belief, or seeing yourself in a particular way.

  • She finally gave up the ghost on that cause.
  • He gave up the ghost on his identity as a rebel.
  • They refused to give up the ghost on their commitment to reform.

How to use it: give up the ghost on something (He gave up the ghost on his old political loyalties.)

Similar words: abandon, renounce, give up

Common phrases: give up the ghost, reluctantly give up the ghost

Questions about give up the ghost

What does give up the ghost mean?

To stop working or fail completely, often after being used for a long time.

What is give up the ghost in other languages?

Türkçe: bozulmak · Español: estropearse · Français: tomber en panne · Deutsch: kaputtgehen · Italiano: guastarsi · 日本語: 故障する

How do you pronounce give up the ghost?

In American English /ˌɡɪv ʌp ðə ˈɡoʊst/; in British English /ˌɡɪv ʌp ðə ˈɡəʊst/.

How do you use give up the ghost in a sentence?

My laptop gave up the ghost. The old fridge finally gave up the ghost yesterday.

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